EPIC Assemblies Educates Students about Suicide Prevention

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In light of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 21, 2015, EPIC Assemblies, a program of BreakDown International comprised of a professional touring group of twelve diverse young artists who bring a powerful message to our nation’s youth, recently announced their upcoming presentations will focus heavily on the subject of suicide.

EPIC Assemblies

With EPIC Assemblies, our goal is to prevent suicide and encourage students to fight for their lives and futures by making positive life choices.

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“International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is the one day out of the year when people affected by suicide loss gather around the world at events in their local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope,” said Teresa Taylor, Director of Epic Assemblies. “With EPIC Assemblies, our goal is to prevent suicide and encourage students to fight for their lives and futures by making positive life choices.”

EPIC (Empowering Presentations Impacting Communities) Assemblies travels the country from September to May reaching as many students as possible with their high-energy, professional and inspiring programs. What makes EPIC Assemblies different and intriguing is that they use their own personal, true-life stories of triumph over tragedy to reach the students in a creative production that incorporates dance, singing, rapping, drama and multimedia video.

This year’s presentation hits hard on the subject of suicide. One of the cast members, Alan, almost committed suicide and speaks openly on stage about his choice after first doing a dramatic dance that captures the emotions he went through. At the end of this piece, he receives a phone call that stops him in the act, which is what caused him to not go through with it. He tells the audience that that phone call was what saved his life, and encourages any of the students in attendance struggling with thoughts of suicide to “answer the phone” because he is calling out to them.

Another cast member, Tyler, then shares about his best friend’s suicide the previous year and how it impacted his life, and that he regrets not reaching out to him sooner. Tyler encourages the students to reach out for help, and to reach out to their friends who may be in a dark place.

“This year’s school presentation is titled ‘Take off the Mask,’ and is currently touring Midwest states,” said John. “EPIC Assemblies just completed an almost-three-week tour, partnering with S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) in North Dakota, where they reached reservation schools close to the Canadian border, private schools, and large public high schools in cities such as Bismarck.”

About EPIC Assemblies
EPIC Assemblies blends personal life stories with artistic expression like dance, drama, original music, spoken word poetry, video and inspirational speaking. They cut straight to the heart of the issues young people are dealing with today, such as bullying, drugs, sex, self-image issues, suicide, cutting and self-harm, abusive relationships and violence, challenging the norm and offering hope through positive alternatives. For more information, follow them on Facebook.

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